Project 31: Day 20: Job

Day 20.  Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.


Well, I have two jobs.


Graphic Designer
I work as a subcontracted graphic designer for a company in Michigan.  I love it because I can work from home (yay!) on projects at my own pace in my own schedule. I get to work on some big projects for some major clients and small projects for local MI clients. It also love it because I do not have any contact with the client. Having a middle man can be frustrating, but my boss is also a designer, and he knows what questions to ask the client and is really good about making them sign off on projects (so they can't say they never approved a design and refuse to pay for it, which happened at my former place of employment). That helps a lot. It's not perfect, but it is working for me.


Nanny Extraordinaire
I start in four days (eek!) working as a nanny for my niece, Ellie. I will be providing full time care for her so her mommy can go back to work. I can't say whether I will love this or hate this job since I haven't started, but I'm pretty certain it'll be love. I've been able to babysit her off and on over the last few weeks. I'm so thankful I've had this time living with them to gain some experience. Watching her all day will come much more naturally now that I've had practice. I am thankful that her mommy has been so open with sharing her. It's been so fun already. I do know that it's going to be super hard the first week or so for them to be apart, but I know Valerie and Andrew have full confidence in me. I am so excited to continue to watch Ellie grow. She'll be 12 weeks old the day I start watching her.


I couldn't pick two better jobs for me. Seriously. I feel so blessed.

I Can't Believe I Quit My Job

I did it. I quit my job. I had many, many, too-numerous-to-mention reasons, but I am no longer employed there. I have never done something like this before. I quit a job without giving two weeks notice. I even wrote up a formal notice when I quit McDonald's, for heaven's sake. I never do things like this. It is completely irresponsible to quit a job without having another job to start. I've been taught this from day one. I know that you should not allow yourself to be between jobs unless you are fired and can then get unemployment. But I did it.

I have been praying about this, considering it, discussing it with my husband for seven months. Seven months!!! It wasn't something I did on a whim. I have been looking for another job just to have a steady income so that I could quit, but nothing came through. Finally my employer basically gave me no other choice, and I felt like it was like God was smacking me in the back of the head, saying, "Laura, I have told you for seven months to trust me. I will provide for you. If you have faith in me and trust in the skills and abilities I have given you, I will make your dreams come true." As we were walking into Meijer last night, I told Nate that. Well, minus the God-smacking-me-in-the-back-of-the-head part. We prayed about it. We read God's Word. We consulted those around us whose opinions we value most especially in this matter: my mom, Nate's mom, Nate's dad, Mike, and Laura. All of them told us variations of the same thing. The behavior of my employer was intolerable, and I needed to give them an ultimatum. Nate and I agreed that this was the right and necessary next step for me. I confronted them in the way I knew I could handle and they would handle best. I emailed them. This way, I would have a written record of our conversation if the need arose. I was also able to carefully consider every word, being sure to say what I meant and not say things I didn't mean out of anger. I sent it last night. I tossed and turned all night. I didn't sleep a wink over 4 hours all night. I had this nasty, queazy feeling in my gut. This morning, I received a reply of apology and a request for me to stay on if they made the situation right. I replied with appreciation but said no. I have this amazing peace about it now. I might even be able to arrange for them to outsource work to me. Which would be a steady income. And I'd get to work from home still. Amazing. Thank you, Jesus.

My goal for the next week is to trim down our expenses and come up with a proper business plan. I've also applied at places like McDonald's and Kohl's. I'm not above doing what has to be done in order to make ends meet and to pursue this. We don't make very much money as it is, but finally have some savings and I know we can do this. I am a talent designer. I know this to be true. Now I just have to tell the world that I am and that I'm affordable and for hire! I found this quote by Oprah Winfrey, "Devote today to something so daring even you can 't believe you 're doing it." I'd say this qualifies! I'm ready for the challenge. Bring it on.

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life." - American Proverb